Travel Diaries

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The Gambia

Written by: Ethan & Steven

Travel

We travelled to The Gambia in January as part of a 50th birthday celebration. Naturally we went armed to our teeth with camera gear to record the trip for digital posterity, which resulted in a huge collection of colourful images. Here is an exhibition highlighting key moments of our journey.

  • The Gambia Sahara Desert
    Above the Sahara Desert during our 6 hour flight.
  • The Gambia Vultures
    Our hotel was set in 20 acres of grounds which naturally attracted lots of wildlife, including Kites, Vultures, Monkeys and Monitor Lizards. Hotel staff created a daily spectacle when feeding the Vultures.
  • The Gambia Vultures
    The Vultures have become used to people around them allowing us superb photo opportunities.
  • The Gambia Bijilo National Park
    We took an escorted walk around the Bijilo National Park to be introduced to the local population of Red Colobus & Green Vervet monkeys. The forest was a beautifully tranquil place that ran for several kilometres, bordered on its west flank by the Atlantic ocean.
  • The Gambia Green Vervet
    A chilled out Green Vervet waiting for a treat!
  • The Gambia Workshop
    On our travels we visited a local craft workshop... we would have loved to have taken this particular work of art home with us but fear the airport check-in staff would have put a stop to it!
  • The Gambia Makasutu Culture Forest
    Makasutu Culture Forest was high on our destination list and we decided to mark Alison's 50th birthday by a trip here. This is a view from an observation platform looking above the mangroves.
  • The Gambia Makasutu Culture Forest
    A second image taken from the same place but given a monochrome treatment.
  • The Gambia Makasutu Culture Forest
    We travelled along the waterways of the Makasutu Culture Forest in canoes and were greeted by the locals.
  • The Gambia Julbrew
    A traditional Gambian dish accompanied by some fine local beer.
  • The Gambia Makasutu Culture Forest
    After a demonstration of Palm Tapping Ethan tried out the traditional method of scaling a Palm tree in Makasutu Culture Forest.
  • The Gambia Baboon
    The local Baboons have developed a real fondness for Fanta Orange and were pretty threatening in their attempts to steal it from tourists. Naturally we saw this as an excuse to point a camera lens in their faces.
  • The Gambia Baboon
    Baboons, Makasutu Culture Forest.
  • The Gambia Kachikally Crocodile Pool
    Another day and another dusty ride in a dilapidated mini bus saw us visiting the Kachikally Crocodile Pool in the small village of Bakau. Some of the hundred plus Crocodiles were very docile such as 'Charlie' shown here. He was given his name by a BBC film crew who visited in the 1980's.
  • The Gambia Kachikally Crocodile Pool
    A collection of less friendly Crocodiles at the Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
  • The Gambia Bakau
    Colourful market vendors, Bakau Main Street.
  • The Gambia Beach
    The wide sweep of sand that typifies Gambian beaches.
  • The Gambia Kololi Point
    Kololi Point.
  • The Gambia Happy Birthday
    Happy Birthday, courtesy of the hotel staff!
  • The Gambia Red Colobus
    A Red Colobus Monkey, part of a resident troupe.
  • The Gambia Banjul
    Albert Market, Banjul was high on our list of 'must sees' so we hired a minibus and guide to show us around.
  • The Gambia Albert Market
    Workshops lining Albert Market.
  • The Gambia Albert Market
    Fruit and Vegetable stalls on Albert Market made a colourful composition.
  • The Gambia Banjul Beach
    Banjul beach area where the fishing boats brought in their catch.
  • The Gambia Banjul Fish Market
    Smoked Catfish, Banjul fish market.
  • The Gambia Albert Market
    Thirst... 35C outside Albert Market, Banjul.
  • The Gambia Red Colobus
    Hmmm, so thats what that racket was above our room!
  • The Gambia Kololi
    Street scene near Kololi.
  • The Gambia Serrekunda Market
    Veggie stall, Serrekunda Market.
  • The Gambia Mariama Kunda School
    Our travel companion Ben entertaining the kids at a school near Mariama Kunda.
  • The Gambia Mariama Kunda School
    Entering a classroom of boisterous under 5's was... hectic to say the least.
  • The Gambia Mariama Kunda School
    Steven getting asked many questions about football, something he knows nothing about...
  • The Gambia Mariama Kunda School
    ...and a portrait of his young interrogators!
  • The Gambia Gambia Tours
    A tour bus with a difference; once off the main roads travelling conditions deteriorated to deeply rutted and potholed dirt tracks, which vehicles such as this took in their stride.
  • The Gambia Uncle John
    'Uncle John', village elder and keeper of the local palm wine 'distillery'.
  • The Gambia Julbrew
    An advert for the most excellent local beer, JulBrew.
  • The Gambia Beach
    This was a rare moment of relaxation for us and we spent an hour watching the world go by on a beautiful unspoiled beach. Even the local canines came here to chill.
  • The Gambia Tanje Village Museum
    A weaver, Tanje Village Museum.
  • The Gambia Tanje Village Museum
    Pretty colours at Tanje Village Museum!
  • The Gambia Tanje Village Museum
    This shutter was too striking to leave un-photographed.
  • The Gambia Fishing Village
    A fishing village near Tanje Village Museum gave us some excellent opportunities to photograph the smoking sheds and boats.
  • The Gambia Fishing Boat
    A colourful fishing boat prow.
  • The Gambia Beach Market
    Beachfront clothing and wheelbarrow stalls.
  • The Gambia Lamin Lodge
    Lamin Lodge; an early start from here allowed us to witness an abundance of bird life and a beautiful sunrise.
  • The Gambia Lamin Lodge
    Sunrise and the boats are made ready for a tranquil journey around the mangroves.
  • The Gambia Lamin Lodge
    Sunrise from the mangroves surrounding Lamin Lodge.
  • The Gambia Modou Jarju
    Our guide to the local birdlife was Modou Jarju, member of the West Africa Bird Association. Thank you Modou for an unforgettable morning.
  • The Gambia Lamin Lodge
    Returning to Lamin Lodge after sunrise, looking forward to a cuppa.
  • The Gambia Lamin Lodge
    Gambia's last Elephant!
  • The Gambia Lamin Lodge
    Local souvenir vendor outside Lamin Lodge.
  • The Gambia The Advert Tree
    'The Advert Tree'
  • The Gambia Abuko Nature Reserve
    On the bumpy road from Lamin to Abuko Nature Reserve; such were the depth of the potholes in this road that our minibus had to be repaired while we were walking around Abuko.
  • The Gambia Abuko Nature Reserve
    The beautiful Abuko Nature Reserve.
  • The Gambia Abuko Nature Reserve
    A large Millipede; it is a good job this one was dead as they are very aggressive beasties.
  • The Gambia Senegambia Beach
    Sunset from Senegambia beach.
  • The Gambia Senegambia Beach
    An abundance of seashells gave us a striking parting image of a fascinating country.